E-mail, Feeds, 'n' Stuff

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Another place to surf

Keeping up with all the Portland and Oregon news that's on the intertubes is quite a challenge. We're late to the party in discovering this site -- NWWatchdog.org -- which looks pretty interesting. It's tied to this national outfit. Is there an agenda behind it, aside from stirring things up a bit? Let's hope not.

Columbia School of Journalism, which I tend to trust states:
"The Franklin Center is perhaps the most ambitious conservative news organization you’ve never heard of. Founded in 2009 by Jason Stverak, a former Republican campaign operative, and initially funded by over $2 million in seed money from the conservative Sam Adams Alliance, the Franklin Center funds small online news operations in 18 states. "

I'll also note Wikipedia states:
"The Franklin Center has co-sponsored programs with Americans for Prosperity and James O'Keefe."

The center was launched by the Chicago-based Sam Adams Alliance (SAM),[6] a 501(c)(3) devoted to pushing free-market ideals. The Franklin Center also receives funding from the Wisconsin-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation,[7] a conservative grant-making organization.[8]

The Franklin Center’s president, Jason Stverak, is the former Regional Field Director for SAM, served as North Dakota Executive Director for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee and former Executive Director of the North Dakota Republican Party.[9][10]

The Center's Director of Donor Relations Matt Hauck is a former Associate at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. [11]

The Center's Chief of Staff Gwen Beattie is the former Director of Development and Operations at America's Future Foundation, an organization committed to "identify and develop the next generation of conservative and libertarian leaders."[12]

The Center's 2009 IRS 990 form lists Rudie Martinson as director and secretary, who formerly worked as the assistant state director for North Dakota's chapter of Koch's Americans for Prosperity.[13]

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 80
At this date last year: 89
Total run in 2014: 401
In 2013: 257
In 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269